Bruxism

Bruxism is also known as teeth grinding which is when you clench your teeth involuntary. It does not result from normal eating or drinking, and usually occurs during sleep. Most people don’t realize that they grind until someone tells them. Discomfort or stress can make an individual grind more. Certain disabilities make a person more likely to grind their teeth. For instance, it is very common in people who have cerebral palsy. There are different treatment options depending on how severe your client’s grinding is.

Identifying grinders:

Make grinding sounds while sleeping

Clenching the jaw when angry

Sensitive teeth

Mobile teeth

Cracked or chipped teeth

Results of Bruxism:

Cracked tooth enamel

Excessive wear of teeth

Headaches

Jaw pain

Muscle soreness

The next step:

If you think that your client is grinding, visit your dentist. A mouth guard is usually the best solution for grinding, however for people with disabilities this is usually unreasonable as the client would have to keep it in their mouths over night. Instead, talk to a dentist to find the best solution.